Rachow Award Winners
Louis Rachow Distinguished Service in Performing Arts Librarianship Award – Winners, 1994-Present
The Distinguished Service Award was renamed in honor of Louis Rachow in 2013
2023
Dorothy Lourdou
2022
Beth Kattelman
2021
Alan Jones
Zoom presentation in collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, New York City, October 15, 2021.
2020
Nancy E. Friedland
Zoom presentation in collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, New York City, December 17, 2020.
2019
Norton Owen
Norton Owen. Photo by Bill Wright (2016)
The Café of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, New York City, October 18, 2019.
2018
Kenneth Schlesinger
Kenneth Schlesinger, Chief Librarian, Lehman College, The City University of New York
The Café of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, October 12, 2018.
2017
Barbara Cohen-Stratyner
Barbara Cohen-Stratyner. Photo by Lynn Saville
Barbara Cohen-Stratyner, Ph. D., retired Rosenberg Curator of Exhibitions, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
The Café of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, October 13, 2017
2016
Rob Melton
Retired Subject Librarian for English, American, and Comparative Literatures Theater & Dance, Religion, and Cultural Studies and Curator, Archive for New Poetry
The Café of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, October 14, 2016
2015
Karen Nickeson
Retired Curator, The Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
The Café of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, October 14, 2016
2014
Jacqueline Z. Davis
Barbara G. and Lawrence A. Fleischman Executive Director, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Bruno Walter Auditorium, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
October 17, 2014
2013
Marti LoMonaco
Professor and Chair, Visual and Performing Arts, Fairfield University; TLA President
Presenter: Kenneth Schlesinger
Kevin Winkler, Marti LoMonaco, and Kenneth Schlesinger, TLA Awards Ceremony, 2013 (Photo: Angela Weaver)
Bruno Walter Auditorium, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
October 18, 2013
2012
Nena Couch
Curator, Lawrence and Lee Theatre Research Institute at Ohio State University; TLA Board Member
Presenter: Susan Brady
Peter Coccia and Nena Couch, TLA Awards Ceremony, 2012 (Photo: Susan Brady)
Bruno Walter Auditorium, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
October 12, 2012
2011
Susan Brady
Archivist, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University; TLA President
Presenter: Nena Couch
Nena Couch and Susan Brady, TLA Awards Ceremony, 2011 (Photo: Angela Weaver)
Bruno Walter Auditorium, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
November 4, 2011
2010
Kevin Winkler
Assistant Director, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts; TLA President
Presenter: Marti LoMonaco
Marti LoMonaco and Kevin Winkler, TLA Awards Ceremony, 2010 (Photo: Bronwen Densmore)
Bruno Walter Auditorium, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
October 8, 2010
2009
Robert Taylor
Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts; TLA Vice President; Acting President; Board Member
Presenter: Kenneth Schlesinger (accepted by Rod Bladell on Mr. Taylor’s behalf)
Bruno Walter Auditorium, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
October 9, 2009
2008
Richard Wall
Assistant Professor and Humanities Librarian, Queens College Libraries; Chair, TLA Book Awards Committee
Presenter: Kevin Winkler
(awarded posthumously to Mr. Wall)
Kevin Winkler and Dick Wall, 2007 (Photo: BROADSIDE)
Bruno Walter Auditorium, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
October 10. 2008
2006
Maryann Chach
Director, The Shubert Archive; TLA Secretary and Board Member
Presenter: Gerald Schoenfeld, Chairman, The Shubert Organization
Gerald Schoenfeld and Maryann Chach, TLA Awards Ceremony, 2006 (Photo: Devyn Summy)
Madeline Fitzgerald Matz
Reference and Research Specialist, Motion Picture and Television Reading Room, Library of Congress; TLA Book Awards juror
Presenter: Phyllis R. Klotman, Professor Emeritus of Afro-American Studies, Indiana University
Phyllis Klotman and Madeline Matz, TLA Awards Ceremony, 2006 (Photo: Devyn Summy)
Mary C. Henderson
Curator, Theatre Collection, The Museum of the City of New York; Editor, TLA’s Performing Arts Resources; theatre historian and teacher
Presenter: John Lahr, Writer/Critic
John Lahr and Mary Henderson, TLA Awards Ceremony, 2006 (Photo: Devyn Summy)
Bruno Walter Auditorium, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
June 2, 2006
2004
Annette Fern
Reference Librarian, Harvard Theatre Collection; TLA Board Member
Presenter: Laurence Senelick
Don B. Wilmeth
Professor Emeritus, Brown University; TLA Vice President and Board Member
Presenter: Laura Linney, Actor
Laura Linney and Don Wilmeth, TLA Awards Ceremony, 2004 (Photo: BROADSIDE)
Bruno Walter Auditorium, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
June 4, 2004
2002
Betty L. Corwin
Curator and Founder, Theatre on Film and Tape, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Presenter: Susan Stroman, Director/Choreographer
Richard M. Buck
Assistant Director, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts; TLA Secretary/ Treasurer
Presenter: Alan Pally
(accepted by Marian Seldes on Mr. Buck’s behalf)
Dick Buck, 1985 (Photo: James D. Gossage)
Bruno Walter Auditorium, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
May 31, 2002
2000
Mary Ann Jensen
Curator, Theatre Collection, Princeton University; TLA President
Presenter: Susan Brady
(officially presented to Ms. Jensen on Saturday, November 11, 2000, at ASTR-TLA reception)
Louis A. Rachow
Curator, Walter Hampden Library at the Players Club; Library Director, International Theatre Institute; TLA President
Presenter: Susan Brady
Rod Bladell
Librarian, Theatre Collection, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Presenter: Kevin Winkler
Don Fowle
Librarian, Theatre Collection, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Presenter: Kevin Winkler
Bernard B. Jacobs Room, 11th Floor Penthouse, Sardi Building
November 9, 2000
1996
Dorothy Swerdlove
Curator, Theatre Collection, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts; TLA President
Presenter: Paul Myers
Bruno Walter Auditorium, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
May 31, 1996
1994
Paul Myers
Curator, Theatre Collection, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts; TLA Board Member
Presenters: Bob Taylor and Nena Couch
Sardi’s Eugenia Room
November 18, 1994